President-elect Donald J. Trump has settled on Gen. John F. Kelly, a retired four-star Marine general whose son was killed in combat in Afghanistan, as his choice for secretary of Homeland Security, putting a seasoned commander with personal experience of the costs of war in charge of protecting the nation’s borders.

Immigration advocates reacted to the news with measured approval, in large part because Mr. Trump did not choose Kris Kobach, the Kansas secretary of state, who is known for his extreme hard-line views on immigration and had been championed for the post by anti-immigration groups. - NYT

President-elect Donald Trump will be able to make many of his promised changes in immigration policy unilaterally by exercising the same kind of executive powers he criticized President Barack Obama for using. But while most of the measures laid out in a ten-point immigration policy plan on Trump's transition website could be set in motion without legislative approval, fully implementing them would require funding that Congress would have to approve, legal experts said. - Reuters

The House Judiciary Committee received from a confidential source an email that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Associate Director for the Field Operations Directorate sent to agency staff on November 29, 2016. In the email, he states that an issue had been identified with the key background system used to vet immigration benefits applicants and that proper background checks have not been run on certain applications. He further states that the agency is uncertain about the scope of the problem. - Congress

For two decades in the Senate, Jeff Sessions led an anti-immigration crusade that made him an outlier in GOP politics — raging against illegal immigration and an excess of foreign workers well before Donald Trump tore onto the political scene. But next year, Sessions likely will be the one engineering the immigration crackdown. - Politico

11/29/2016: Immigration violations are majority of federal cases for first time

In the last fiscal year, 52 percent of all federal prosecutions - 69,636 cases - involved an immigration violation, compared to 63,405 prosecutions for all other federal crimes, according to a new study by Syracuse University's Transactional Records Clearinghouse, which sued the Justice Department to obtain the information. - Fox

11/24/2016: Happy Thanksgiving!

The Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for December 2016. The table below shows "Final Action (Approval)" cut-off dates and movement from the previous month, for all major employment-based categories. To see filing cut-off dates or family-sponsored categories please go to the Visa Bulletin page linked above. For historical data, predictions and more information please refer to our Visa Bulletin Toolbox.

Chargeability

Preference

Cut-off Date (Y-M-D)

Movement (Days)

China

Second (EB2)

2012-09-22

69

India

Second (EB2)

2008-02-01

92

ROW

Third (EB3)

2016-07-01

0

China

Third (EB3)

2013-07-01

77

India

Third (EB3)

2005-03-15

7

Mexico

Third (EB3)

2016-07-01

30

Philippines

Third (EB3)

2011-06-01

61

11/08/2016: Donald Trump's Vision on Immigration Reform

Donald J. Trump has won the 2016 general election and will become the 45th President of the United States. Below is his vision on immigration reform:

Prioritize the jobs, wages and security of the American people.

Establish new immigration controls to boost wages and to ensure that open jobs are offered to American workers first.

10/31/2016: CBP Launches the Electronic Visa Update System for Early Enrollments

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced today the launch of the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) website for early enrollments. All individuals with a People’s Republic of China issued passport bearing a 10-year B1/B2, B1 or B2 (visitor) visa will be required to have a valid EVUS enrollment when traveling to the United States beginning on November 29. EVUS is the online system used by nationals of the People’s Republic of China holding a 10-year B1/B2, B1 or B2 (visitor) visa to update basic biographic information to facilitate their travel to the United States. EVUS enrollments are valid for two years or until the traveler obtains a new passport or visa, whichever comes first. - CBP

10/21/2016: USCIS Fees to Increase Significantly

In this final rule, DHS will adjust fees by a weighted average increase of 21 percent to ensure that fees for each benefit type are adequate to cover USCIS’ costs associated with processing applications and petitions, as well as providing similar benefits to asylum and refugee applicants
and certain other immigrants at no charge. - DHS

10/19/2016: China identified as an EVUS Country and B visas as designated visa categories

Through this notice, the Secretary of Homeland Security, after consultation with the Secretary of State, identifies the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as an EVUS country and designates B-1, B-2, and B-1/B-2 visas issued without restriction for the maximum validity period, which is generally 10 years, as designated visa categories when the visas are contained in a passport issued by the PRC.

The Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for November 2016. The table below shows "Final Action (Approval)" cut-off dates and movement from the previous month, for all major employment-based categories. To see filing cut-off dates or family-sponsored categories please go to the Visa Bulletin page linked above. For historical data, predictions and more information please refer to our Visa Bulletin Toolbox.

Chargeability

Preference

Cut-off Date (Y-M-D)

Movement (Days)

China

Second (EB2)

2012-07-15

1570

India

Second (EB2)

2007-11-01

290

ROW

Third (EB3)

2016-07-01

30

China

Third (EB3)

2013-04-15

83

India

Third (EB3)

2005-03-08

7

Mexico

Third (EB3)

2016-07-01

30

Philippines

Third (EB3)

2011-04-01

121

An extension of both the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) and Employment Fifth Preference Pilot (I5 and R5) Categories was signed into law in late September. As indicated in item D of the Visa Bulletin which announced the October final action dates, the extension has resulted in the immediate application of the following final action dates for the month of October:
SR: “Current” for all countries except El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras which are subject to a June 15, 2015 final action date for October.
I5 and R5: “Current” for all countries except China-mainland born for October. China-mainland born applicants are subject to a February 22, 2014 final action date for October.

10/10/2016: Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2017

The admission of up to 110,000 refugees to the United States during Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 is justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest:

Among today’s denials was the federal government’s petition for rehearing in United States v. Texas, the challenge to an Obama administration policy that would have permitted as many as four million undocumented immigrants to apply for a program that would have allowed them to remain in the country and work here legally. The justices heard arguments in the case in April of this year, but in June they announced that they had deadlocked 4-4, an outcome that left in place the lower court’s decision striking down the policy. In July, the Obama administration asked the court to reconsider that ruling when it has all nine justices. The petition for rehearing was, as the federal government acknowledged in its filing, a long shot, and today the justices rejected it without comment. - SCOTUSBlog

09/29/2016: Extension of Older Edition of Form N-400, Application for Naturalization

On April 13, 2016, USCIS published a revised version of Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. We recognize many organizations may need time to transition to using the revised form. Until December 1, 2016:

Applicants may file either the older edition (09/13/13) or newer edition (03/26/16) of the form, and

If the application was prepared at a group assistance event, sponsoring organizations using a stamp or sticker in place of the information required in Part 14. Interpreter’s section or Part 15. Preparer’s section, may continue that practice.

09/19/2016: Flaws in Fingerprint Records Allowed Hundreds to Become U.S. Citizens

The report from the department’s Office of Inspector General found that nearly 900 individuals were granted citizenship because neither the agency nor the F.B.I. databases contained all of the fingerprint records of people who had previously been ordered to be deported. - NYT

09/15/2016: Diversity Visa Program Entry Instructions Released

DV-2018 Program: Online registration for the DV-2018 Program begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and concludes on Monday, November 7, 2016 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-4). - DOS

09/09/2016: Visa Bulletin Predictions from the Department of State

The Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for October 2016. The table below shows "Final Action (Approval)" cut-off dates and movement from the previous month, for all major employment-based categories. To see filing cut-off dates or family-sponsored categories please go to the Visa Bulletin page linked above. For historical data, predictions and more information please refer to our Visa Bulletin Toolbox.

Chargeability

Preference

Cut-off Date (Y-M-D)

Movement (Days)

China

Second (EB2)

2012-02-15

775

India

Second (EB2)

2007-01-15

692

ROW

Third (EB3)

2016-06-01

31

China

Third (EB3)

2013-01-22

1117

India

Third (EB3)

2005-03-01

14

Mexico

Third (EB3)

2016-06-01

31

Philippines

Third (EB3)

2010-12-01

153

The final action date for the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category has been listed as “Unavailable” for October. If there is legislative action extending this category for FY-2017, the final action date would immediately become “Current” for October for all countries except El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras which would be subject to a June 15, 2015 final action date.

The final action dates for the I5 and R5 categories have been listed as “Unavailable” for October. If there is legislative action extending them for FY-2017, the final action dates would immediately become “Current” for October for all countries except China-mainland born I5 and R5 which would be subject to a February 22, 2014 final action date.

USCIS invites you to a webinar on Wednesday, September 21, 2016, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. (Eastern) on T and U visas and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), immigration relief for victims for human trafficking, domestic violence and other serious crimes. This webinar is intended for community-based organizations, social service agencies and advocates. Visit our registration page to confirm your participation

09/07/2016: Immigration Source Shifts to Asia From Mexico

The figures include people who come legally and illegally, but don’t distinguish between the two. While Chinese and Indian immigrants are far more likely to be in the U.S. legally than those from Mexico, Asians represent one of the fastest-growing segments of undocumented immigrants in the country, researchers say. People from Mexico and other Central American countries account for about 71% of the U.S. unauthorized immigrant population, while Asians account for the second-largest share at 13%, according to the Migration Policy Institute. - WSJ

08/31/2016: Donald Trump Address on Immigration

Donald Trump delievered an important speech on immigration today and also unveiled his ten-point plan:

"On Wednesday, August 31, USCIS published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register inviting public comment, for 45 days, on the proposed International Entrepreneur Rule. To submit a comment, follow the instructions in the notice. After the 45-day period, we will address the public comments. The proposed rule will not take effect with the publication of the notice of proposed rulemaking. Instead, it will take effect on the date indicated in the final rule when the final rule is published in the Federal Register." - USCIS

08/29/2016: Top Destinations for Syrian Refugees: Michigan and California

The top destination for Syrian refugees arriving in the U.S. is the state of Michigan. Close on Michigan's heels is California, which has taken in 1,030 Syrians between Oct. 1 of last year and Aug. 29, the federal figures show.

Arizona and Texas, two red states led by Republican governors who have flat-out said they don't want Syrian refugees because they supposedly pose a security risk, are next on the list having taken in 766 and 735 people, respectively, the figures show. - NBC

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is proposing a new rule, which would allow certain international entrepreneurs to be considered for parole (temporary permission to be in the United States) so that they may start or scale their businesses here in the United States.

The proposed rule would allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to use its existing discretionary statutory parole authority for entrepreneurs of startup entities whose stay in the United States would provide a significant public benefit through the substantial and demonstrated potential for rapid business growth and job creation. Under this proposed rule, DHS may parole, on a case-by-case basis, eligible entrepreneurs of startup enterprises. - USCIS

08/24/2016: Avoid Payment Scams: USCIS Does Not Accept Fees By Phone or Email

"Immigrants all over the country are being targeted in scams. Don’t be one of the victims! Scammers may call or email you, pretending to be a government official. They will say that there is a problem with an application or additional information is required to continue the immigration process. They will then ask for personal and sensitive details, and demand payment to fix any problems.

Remember, USCIS officials will never ask for payment over the phone or in an email. If we need payment, we will mail a letter on official stationery requesting payment. If you receive a scam email or phone call, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at http://1.usa.gov/1suOHSS. If you are not sure if it is a scam, forward the suspicious email to the USCIS Webmaster at uscis.webmaster@uscis.dhs.gov. USCIS will review the emails received and share with law enforcement agencies as appropriate." - USCIS

08/21/2016: Donald Trump's Immigration Reform May Be Less Severe Than We Thought

Several people who met with Trump on Saturday told NBC that the Republican nominee seems to be easing his stance on illegal immigration. “He definitely was seeking input from this group of Latinos in terms of immigration reform,” Jesus Marquez, a Nevada political analyst and Latino outreach strategist, told the news outlet. “He is expecting for us to lay out points of a future plan for immigration.” - Fortune

The Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for September 2016. The table below shows "Final Action (Approval)" cut-off dates and movement from the previous month, for all major employment-based categories. To see filing cut-off dates or family-sponsored categories please go to the Visa Bulletin page linked above. For historical data, predictions and more information please refer to our Visa Bulletin Toolbox.

"The United States has been a global leader in the resettlement of refugees. That’s why last year the President made a renewed commitment to help in some of the most vulnerable refugees in the world, pledging to increase the number of refugees we will accept from around the world to 85,000 from 70,000 per year over the last three years. As part of this commitment we also pledged to welcome at least 10,000 refugees fleeing the terrible conflict in Syria." - USCIS

08/08/2016: How To Fix Our Messed-Up Immigration System So It Boosts The Economy

Recently, the Supreme Court, through a 4-4 vote, affirmed a federal judge’s ruling and effectively killed President Obama’s suspension of the law requiring deportation of millions of illegal immigrants to instead grant them work visas. It’s obvious the court can’t fix our immigration system, however. Congress has to take up the task. If the recent Brexit vote is an indication, any further delay in addressing our immigration policy will have serious political and economic consequences. - The Federalist

08/04/2016: Trump's wife facing questions about her own immigration history

"Trump’s wife, Melania, who was born in what is now Slovenia and worked as a New York fashion model in the mid-1990s, has held herself up as an example of an immigrant who came to the U.S. legally and followed the law. She said she applied for a green card and eventually obtained U.S. citizenship." - LA Times

07/22/2016: Backlog of pending cases at immigration courts hits record high

A backlog in the nation's federal immigration courts has reached 500,051 cases, the highest number ever recorded, according to U.S. immigration officials Friday.

The growing backlog of cases stems from several reasons: few available immigration judges, immigration laws that have grown more complicated over the years, and changing migration patterns, the head of the immigration judges' union said Friday. - KPCC

The Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for August 2016. The table below shows "Final Action (Approval)" cut-off dates and movement from the previous month, for all major employment-based categories. To see filing cut-off dates or family-sponsored categories please go to the Visa Bulletin page linked above. For historical data, predictions and more information please refer to our Visa Bulletin Toolbox.

USCIS announced on July 8, 2016, that it has returned all fiscal year 2017 H-1B cap-subject petitions that were not selected in our computer-generated random selection process. If you submitted an H-1B cap-subject petition between April 1 and April 7, 2016 and have not received a receipt notice or a returned petition by July 22, 2016, you may contact USCIS for assistance.

07/05/2016: Immigration reformers eye Gang of 8 revival

Graham isn't the only one eyeing a revival of the Gang of Eight, the bipartisan group of senators that shepherded a sweeping immigration bill through the Senate three years ago only to watch it stall in the House a year later. Propelled by a Republican establishment eager to make inroads with minority voters after losing them by steep margins in the 2012 election, it was the closest Congress came in a generation to overhauling the nation’s immigration laws. - Politico

USCIS, however, still has much work to do to resolve
longstanding systemic issues that compromise efficiency,
quality of adjudications, and customer service. As a former
Immigration and Naturalization Service counsel, seasoned
immigration practitioner, and now as the Ombudsman,
I have seen the detrimental impacts of inadequate
customer service, delays in processing times, inconsistent
adjudications, and ineffective policymaking. These are
meaningful problems and should be treated as such. - Report

"You wrote that Arizona adopted “anti-immigration legislation in 2010. 'Of course, you surely meant to say “anti-illegal immigration.' As a writer and former newspaper editor myself, I’m sensitive to the precision and nuance of language. Just thought I’d bring that to your attention. No charge." - LA Times

06/27/2016: USCIS’ Improved InfoPass Appointment Scheduler

Today, USCIS launched a refresh of InfoPass, our online system that lets you schedule an appointment at one of our offices. New features include a mapping function that makes it easier to find a local office here in the United States and an improved visual style that matches the rest of uscis.gov as well as a new web address: my.uscis.gov/appointment.

Donald Trump cast Britain’s decision to leave the European Union as a revolt against unfettered immigration into the West, as Thursday's vote emboldened both the billionaire’s anti-establishment bid for president and other break-away efforts across Europe. - Fox

06/23/2016: Deadlocked Supreme Court blocks Obama on immigration

The Supreme Court dealt a likely fatal blow Thursday to President Obama's effort to protect millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation and allow them to seek work permits, deadlocking 4-4 over a plan that had divided the nation as well as the justices. - USA Today

06/16/2016: Anger Fuels the U.K.'s Brexit Campaign

Barbara, a 40-year-old homemaker from this suburban town 30 miles west of London, doesn't hesitate when asked how she'll vote in next Thursday's referendum on whether Britain should continue its membership in the European Union: "Out," she says, firmly. Asked why, she quickly responds: "Because our NHS (National Health Service) is struggling. It doesn't have enough funding, and you have new people coming in every day using it and not paying in." - U.S. News

The Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for July 2016. The table below shows "Final Action (Approval)" cut-off dates and movement from the previous month, for all major employment-based categories. To see filing cut-off dates or family-sponsored categories please go to the Visa Bulletin page linked above. For historical data, predictions and more information please refer to our Visa Bulletin Toolbox.

05/31/2016: Green Card Tracker Updated with Data as of April 1, 2016

USCIS today published the pending I-485 inventory with data as of April 2016. We have now updated the green card tracker with the latest information. The I-485 tracker includes data from USCIS' pending I-485 inventory as well as DOS' pending consular processing cases.

"San Francisco officials plan to take another run at clarifying sanctuary protections for people who are in the country illegally, a policy that landed the city in national hot water last year when a Mexican man shot and killed a woman walking along a waterfront pier.

The measure calls for law officers to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement only if a defendant is charged with a violent crime and has been convicted of a violent crime within the last seven years. That would be the only time city workers, including police officers, could disclose immigration status." - Fox

05/22/2016: Immigration backlash at the heart of British push to leave the E.U.

"Although the E.U. itself ranks near the bottom of surveys measuring the issues that matter to Britons, immigration — levels of which have been at historic highs — often tops the list. Advocates for a British exit have hammered the point, arguing that getting out of the E.U. is the only way for the country to control its borders, because the 28-member club guarantees its citizens freedom of movement." - WaPo

05/18/2016: USCIS Annouces I-485 Filing Visa Bulletin for June 2016

Both employment-based and fimily-sponsored I-485 filing dates must follow the Final Action chart for June 2016.

05/10/2016: Employers May Submit Inquiries If Extension of Status/Change of Employer Petition Has Been Pending for 210 Days or More

On April 21, 2016, USCIS began allowing petitioners who filed Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, requesting an extension of status or change of employer to submit an inquiry after their petition has been pending for 210 days or more. This inquiry may be based on the petition being outside of normal processing times. - USCIS

The Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for June 2016. The table below shows "Final Action (Approval)" cut-off dates and movement from the previous month, for all major employment-based categories. To see filing cut-off dates or family-sponsored categories please go to the Visa Bulletin page linked above. For historical data, predictions and more information please refer to our Visa Bulletin Toolbox.

Chargeability

Preference

Cut-off Date (Y-M-D)

Movement (Days)

China

Second (EB2)

2010-01-01

-974

India

Second (EB2)

2004-10-01

-1513

ROW

Third (EB3)

2016-02-15

0

China

Third (EB3)

2010-01-01

-1322

India

Third (EB3)

2004-09-22

21

Mexico

Third (EB3)

2016-02-15

0

Philippines

Third (EB3)

2008-11-01

85

INDIA EB2: During the past two months, there have been extremely high levels of Employment-based demand for adjustment of status cases filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This has necessitated retrogression of the Second preference final action date for the month of June in an effort to hold number use within the FY-2016 annual limit. This date is expected to advance slowly during the last three months of the fiscal year, at a pace consistent with that of the India Employment-based Third preference date.

CHINA EB2 and EB3: During the past two months, there have been extremely high levels of Employment-based demand for adjustment of status cases filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This has necessitated retrogression of both the Second and Third preference final action dates for the month of June in an effort to hold number use within those FY-2016 annual limits. Neither of these dates is expected to advance prior to the end of the fiscal year.

Item D of the May Visa Bulletin advised readers that such corrective action might be necessary to control future number use during the coming months. Every effort will be made to return the retrogressed dates to those listed in the May 2016 Visa Bulletin as quickly as possible, once the FY-2017 annual limits take effect October 1, 2016. Speculation on how quickly, or when, a full recovery might occur might not be possible until late summer.

05/03/2016: USCIS Proposed Fees by Immigration Benefit

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposes to adjust certain
immigration and naturalization benefit request fees charged by U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS). USCIS conducted a comprehensive fee review, after
refining its cost accounting process, and determined that current fees do not recover the
full costs of the services it provides. Adjustment to the fee schedule is necessary to fully
recover costs for USCIS services and to maintain adequate service. DHS proposes to
increase USCIS fees by a weighted average of 21 percent and add one new fee. In
addition, DHS proposes to clarify that persons filing a benefit request may be required to
appear for biometrics services or an interview and pay the biometrics services fee, and
make a number of other changes. - USCIS

USCIS Proposed Fees by Immigration Benefit:

Immigration Benefit Request

Current Fee

Proposed Fee

Delta ($)

Percent Change

G-1041

$20

$65

$45

225%

G-1041A

$20

$65

$45

225%

G-1041A

$35

$65

$30

86%

I-90

$365

$455

$90

25%

I-102

$330

$445

$115

35%

I-129

$325

$460

$135

42%

I-129F

$340

$535

$195

57%

I-130

$420

$535

$115

27%

I-131/I-131A

$360

$575

$215

60%

I-140

$580

$700

$120

21%

I-290B

$630

$675

$45

7%

I-360

$405

$435

$30

7%

I-485

$985

$1,140

$155

16%

I-526

$1,500

$3,675

$2,175

145%

I-539

$290

$370

$80

28%

I-600/600A/ 800/800A

$720

$775

$55

8%

I-601A

$585

$630

$45

8%

I-687

$1,130

$1,130

$0

0%

I-690

$200

$715

$515

258%

I-694

$755

$890

$135

18%

I-698

$1,020

$1,670

$650

64%

I-751

$505

$595

$90

18%

I-765

$380

$410

$30

8%

I-800A Supp. 3

$360

$385

$25

7%

I-817

$435

$600

$165

38%

I-824

$405

$465

$60

15%

I-829

$3,750

$3,750

$0

0%

I-910

$615

$785

$170

28%

I-924

$6,230

$17,795

$11,56 5

186%

I-924A

$0

$3,035

$3,035

N/A

I-929

$215

$230

$15

7%

N-300

$250

$270

$20

8%

N-336

$650

$700

$50

8%

N-400

$595

$640

$45

8%

N-470

$330

$355

$25

8%

N-565

$345

$555

$210

61%

N-600/ N-600K

$600

$1,170

$570

95%

I-191, I-192,I-193, I-212,I-601, I-602,I-612

$585

$930

$345

59%

USCIS Immigrant Fee

$165

$220

$55

33%

Biometric Services

$85

$85

$0

0%

05/02/2016: DOS decision to revoke nonimmigrant visas upon arrest for a DUI-related offense

"The Visa Office implemented the requirement for consular officers to prudentially
revoke nonimmigrant visas for DUI arrests subsequent to visa issuance because
driving under the influence is indicative of a possible INA 212(a)(1)(A)(iii)
ineligibility for a possible physical or mental disorder with associated harmful
behavior. Consular officers have been required to refer any nonimmigrant visa
applicant with one alcohol related arrest in the last five years or two or more in the
last 10 years to the panel physician for a medical examination prior to visa issuance to
rule out a medical ineligibility." - DOS

04/25/2016: Immigration Relief for Those Affected by Severe Earthquakes

USCIS offers immigration relief measures for people affected by natural disasters, such as the severe earthquakes that recently occurred in Ecuador, Japan and Burma. If you are seeking relief because of the natural disaster, you must still file any USCIS forms regularly required for the benefit or relief you are requesting. When filing the appropriate form(s) for your specific request, please explain how the natural disaster created a need for the requested relief. For more information, visit uscis.gov/humanitarian/special-situations.

04/18/2016: Transcript of oral argument before the Supreme Court of the United States on DACA/DAPA

Does the president have the power to select which laws to enforce and which ones to ignore? The SCOTUS decision on this matter will have significant, long-lasting impact on the United States, and it all begins today. - Transcript

"The impassioned election-year debate over President Obama’s immigration executive actions lands Monday before a short-handed Supreme Court, where justices will consider a fundamental question: how much power does the president truly have?

At issue Monday is whether as many as 5 million illegal immigrants can be spared deportation -- including those who entered the U.S. as children, and the parents of citizens or legal residents. The programs -- known as Deferred Action for Parents of American Citizens and Permanent Residents (DAPA) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) -- effectively went around the Republican-led Congress" - Fox

USCIS received over 236,000 H-1B petitions during the filing period, which began April 1, including petitions filed for the advanced degree exemption. On April 9, USCIS used a computer-generated random selection process, or lottery, to select enough petitions to meet the 65,000 general-category cap and the 20,000 cap under the advanced degree exemption. USCIS will reject and return all unselected petitions with their filing fees, unless the petition is found to be a duplicate filing.

The agency conducted the selection process for the advanced degree exemption first. All unselected advanced degree petitions then became part of the random selection process for the 65,000 limit.

04/12/2016: Visa Bulletin Predictions

In the May 2016 Visa Bulletin, the Department of State issued the following statement:

Family-Sponsored:

CHINA F4: The level of applicant demand being received has begun to increase. Should this pattern continue, it will be necessary to either hold or retrogress this final action date in late summer. That action would be necessary to hold number use within the overall China Family-sponsored annual limit.

INDIA F4: The amount of demand being reported for applicants with priority dates which are significantly earlier than the established cut-off date has increased dramatically in recent months. As a result, it is likely that this final action date will be retrogressed, possibly as early as June. This action would be necessary to hold number use within the overall India Family-sponsored annual limit.

Employment-Based:

CHINA E3: There has been an extremely large increase in Employment Third preference applicant demand in recent weeks. This is likely due to the “downgrading” of status by applicants who had originally filed in the Employment Second preference. This has resulted in the Third preference final action date being held for the month of May. Continued heavy demand for numbers will require a retrogression of this date for June to hold number use within the FY-2016 annual limit.

During the past month, there have been extremely high levels of Employment-based demand in most categories for cases filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for adjustment of status. If this sudden and unanticipated change in the demand pattern continues, it could impact final action dates in the coming months and possibly require corrective action in some.

The Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for May 2016. The table below shows "Final Action (Approval)" cut-off dates and movement from the previous month, for all major employment-based categories. To see filing cut-off dates or family-sponsored categories please go to the Visa Bulletin page linked above. For historical data, predictions and more information please refer to our Visa Bulletin Toolbox.

Chargeability

Preference

Cut-off Date (Y-M-D)

Movement (Days)

China

Second (EB2)

2012-09-01

0

India

Second (EB2)

2008-11-08

14

ROW

Third (EB3)

2016-02-15

0

China

Third (EB3)

2013-08-15

0

India

Third (EB3)

2004-08-08

24

Mexico

Third (EB3)

2016-02-15

0

Philippines

Third (EB3)

2008-05-01

99

Special Note on E4 and SR categories from the Department of State:

"There is currently extremely high demand in the E4 and SR categories for applicants from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. This demand is primarily for Juvenile Court Dependent cases filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for adjustment of status. Pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act, this requires implementing E4 and SR Application Final Action Dates for these countries, which will allow the Department to hold worldwide number use within the maximum allowed under the FY-2016 annual limits. Any forward movement during the remainder of FY-2016 is unlikely although no specific prediction is possible.

A determination as to whether these countries will remain subject to E4 and SR final application dates under the FY-2017 annual numerical limitation will be made in early September. Future visa availability will depend on a combination of demand for numbers being reported each month, and the extent to which otherwise unused numbers become available.

It is extremely likely that the India and Mexico Employment Fourth Preference categories will also become oversubscribed at some point during the summer months."

04/07/2016: USCIS Reaches FY 2017 H-1B Cap

"U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reached the congressionally mandated H-1B cap for fiscal year (FY) 2017. USCIS has also received more than the limit of 20,000 H-1B petitions filed under the U.S. advanced degree exemption. USCIS will use a computer-generated process, also known as the lottery, to randomly select the petitions needed to meet the caps of 65,000 visas for the general category and 20,000 for the advanced degree exemption." - USCIS

03/29/2016: Updated List of Deferred Inspection Sites

CBP has published an updated list of Deferred Inspection Sites. These sites provide assistance to people who were scheduled for a deferred inspection at the time of entry (due to missing documentation, for example), and they can also correct errors on I-94.

03/28/2016: USCIS Message: Beware of Immigration Scams

"Scammers pretend to be a government official and call immigrants saying there is a problem with their immigration record. Sometimes they know personal information about the immigrant. They ask for personal and sensitive details, and demand immediate payment to fix the problem. They get angry and threaten people with deportation if payment is not made immediately with electronic money transfers. Sometimes, scammers use special software to make it look like our 800 number is calling. Other times they leave a message to call a number that sounds exactly like our 800 number.

Remember, USCIS officials rarely call customers on the phone, and WE WILL NEVER ASK FOR PAYMENT OVER THE PHONE. If we need payment, we will send a letter on official stationery requesting payment. If you receive a call like this, hang up and report it to the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov." - USCIS

The STEM Designated Degree Program list is a complete list of fields of study that DHS considers to be science, technology, engineering or
mathematics (STEM) fields of study for purposes of the 24-month STEM optional practical training extension described at 8 CFR 214.2(f).
Under 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(C)(2), a STEM field of study is a field of study “included in the Department of Education’s Classification of
Instructional Programs taxonomy within the two-digit series containing engineering, biological sciences, mathematics, and physical sciences,
or a related field. In general, related fields will include fields involving research, innovation, or development of new technologies using
engineering, mathematics, computer science, or natural sciences (including physical, biological, and agricultural sciences).” - ICE

03/24/2016: Reminder for H-4 Applicants When Traveling Abroad

"USCIS would like to remind individuals applying for a change of status to H-4 that if you travel abroad before we approve your Form I-539, Change of Status (COS) application, we will consider your application to be abandoned. This means we will deny your COS application. If you filed your Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and travel abroad before your COS is approved, it will be considered abandoned, along with your I-539 application. This will result in a denial of your Form I-765 even if you are re-admitted as an H-4 nonimmigrant. If re-admitted as an H-4 nonimmigrant, you would need to file a new Form I-765, with fee, in order to apply for employment authorization." - USCIS

"It did not take long. Almost as soon as the bombs went off in Brussels on Tuesday morning, the new act of terrorism in the heart of Europe was employed in the bitter debate about the influx of migrants from the Middle East and North Africa.

Even before the identities and nationalities of the attackers were known, there was an immediate association in popular discourse between the attacks on the airport and subway station in Brussels and the migrant crisis. Right-wing politicians and average citizens alike raised concerns that groups like the Islamic State, which claimed responsibility for the attacks, are slipping radicalized recruits, including European jihadists, through the vast migrant stream and into an unprepared Europe." - NYT

03/21/2016: USCIS I-485 Processing Statistics from 10/1 to 12/31/2015

It is worth noting that USCIS issues far more family-based green cards than employment-based (about 3X). Humanitarian-based I-485 approvals are also higher than EB petitions including entrepreneur and investor visas.

03/18/2016: European Union Reaches Deal With Turkey to Return New Asylum Seekers

The European Union and Turkey reached a deal on Friday to return new asylum seekers who arrive in Greece from Turkey, a significant step in the bloc’s effort to deal with the migrant crisis that has roiled the Continent. The effectiveness of the plan, which will begin on Sunday, was also unclear given that there are many alternative routes into Europe.

The deal calls for Turkey to receive about $6.6 billion in aid to help organizations look after the nearly three million migrants already in Turkey, promises of visa-free travel for its citizens in most of Europe, and the eventual resumption of negotiations with Turkey on membership in the European Union. The European Union also will resettle one Syrian from a camp in Turkey in exchange for each Syrian who used an irregular route to reach Greece. - NYT

On April 1, 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year (FY) 2017 cap. U.S. businesses use the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in occupations that require highly specialized knowledge in fields such as science, engineering and computer programming. The congressionally mandated cap on H-1B visas for FY 2017 is 65,000. The first 20,000 H-1B petitions filed for individuals with a U.S. master’s degree or higher are exempt from the 65,000 cap.

USCIS expects to receive more than 65,000 petitions during the first five business days of this year’s program. The agency will monitor the number of petitions received and notify the public when the H-1B cap has been met. - USCIS

03/11/2016: DHS Launches STEM OPT Hub for International Students

Today SEVP launched a STEM OPT Hub on DHS’ Study in the States. The Hub will include resources for students, designated school officials, and employers. SEVP monitors approximately one million international students pursuing academic or vocational studies (F and M visa holders) in the United States and their dependents. It also certifies schools and programs that enroll these students. The U.S. Department of State (DOS) monitors exchange visitors (J visa holders) and their dependents, and oversees exchange visitor programs.

03/10/2016: Wall Street's Frustrated Chinese Bankers Are Heading Back Home

"All three are among the many Chinese who came to the U.S. to study business, find work and make salaries beyond reach at home and are now headed in the opposite direction. As U.S. firms have cut bonuses and positions, and China’s sector explodes in sophistication and pay, some are migrating back. And while this may seem like an odd moment to repatriate, given the mounting financial jitters back home, two forces are driving the move: the fact that many feel they’re hitting a bamboo ceiling in the U.S. and the belief that Chinese growth, while slowing, is shifting into areas that will benefit bankers." - Bloomberg

The Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for April 2016. The table below shows "Final Action (Approval)" cut-off dates and movement from the previous month, for all major employment-based categories. To see filing cut-off dates or family-sponsored categories please go to the Visa Bulletin page linked above. For historical data, predictions and more information please refer to our Visa Bulletin Toolbox.

Chargeability

Preference

Cut-off Date (Y-M-D)

Movement (Days)

China

Second (EB2)

2012-09-01

31

India

Second (EB2)

2008-11-08

24

ROW

Third (EB3)

2016-02-15

45

China

Third (EB3)

2013-08-15

75

India

Third (EB3)

2004-08-08

24

Mexico

Third (EB3)

2016-02-15

45

Philippines

Third (EB3)

2008-05-01

47

03/09/2016: DOS Annouces EB-5 Investor Assistance Desk

"Those with questions related to an approved I-526 petition can now correspond with the National Visa Center (NVC) using a dedicated e-mail address: NVCeb5@state.gov. The newly created EB-5 Investor Assistance Desk is part of NVC's continuing efforts to improve customer service.

Upon receipt of an approved petition from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, NVC's Investor Assistant Desk will oversee the addition of potential derivative applicants and creation of fee bills. Customers will e-mail their derivative's relationship documents to NVCeb5@state.gov, which can also be used for inquiries on derivatives, the Child Status Protection Act, and general case status.

The Investor Assistance Desk does not change NVC's process for documentarily qualifying an immigrant visa case and scheduling an interview overseas. All visa applicants, including those in the EB-5 category, should submit their financial, civil, and supporting documents to NVC in one package following the instructions available at: nvc.state.gov/submit. The goal of NVC's Investor Assistance Desk is to provide more transparent and effective customer service through a team specially trained in the I-526 petition." - National Visa Center (NVC)

03/09/2016: Advanced Copy of STEM OPT Final Rule

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is amending its F-1 nonimmigrant student visa regulations on optional practical training (OPT) for certain students with degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) from U.S. institutions of higher education. Specifically, the final rule allows such F-1 STEM students who have elected to pursue 12 months of OPT in the United States to extend the OPT period by 24 months (STEM OPT extension). This 24-month extension effectively replaces the 17-month STEM OPT extension previously available to certain STEM students. The rule also improves and increases oversight over STEM OPT extensions by, among other things, requiring the implementation of formal training plans by employers, adding wage and other protections for STEM OPT students and U.S. workers, and allowing extensions only to students with degrees from accredited schools. As with the prior 17-month STEM OPT extension, the rule authorizes STEM OPT extensions only for students employed by employers who participate in E-Verify. The rule also includes the “Cap-Gap” relief first introduced in a 2008 DHS regulation for any F-1 student with a timely filed H-1B petition and request for change of status.

DATES: This rule is effective May 10, 2016, except the addition of 8 CFR 214.16, which is effective from May 10, 2016, through May 10, 2019. - DHS

03/07/2016: Americans Really Don't Like Immigration, New Survey Finds

Sixty-one percent of Americans agree that "continued immigration into the country jeopardizes the United States," according to a new poll commissioned by management consulting firm A.T. Kearney that revealed pessimism across a wide range of issues. The degree of concern is remarkable considering that the question was about all immigration, including the legal kind. Even Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said he supports legal immigration into the U.S. - Bloomberg

03/04/2016: CBP Introduces Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS)

EVUS is the online system used by nationals of China holding a 10-year B1/B2, B1 or B2 (visitor) visa periodically to update basic biographic information to facilitate their travel to the United States. In addition to a valid visa, such travelers will be required to complete an EVUS enrollment to be admitted into the United States. Beginning in November 2016, Chinese travelers will need to go online and update their information in order to comply with EVUS requirements. As the system is developed and the launch date gets closer, the U.S. Government will ensure that information about the EVUS process is readily available. - CBP

03/03/2016: OPT STEM Extension Final Rule Approved by OMB

Last hurdle of OPT Extension has been cleared and DHS is expected to publish the final rule shortly.

RIN: 1653-AA72

Received Date: 02/05/2016

Title: Improving and Expanding Training Opportunities for F-1 Nonimmigrant Students with STEM Degrees and Cap-Gap Relief for All Eligible F-1 Students

As Europe’s migrant crisis spiraled toward yet another humanitarian catastrophe, a European Union leader issued a stark warning Thursday to millions in search of economic opportunity: Stay away. "Do not come to Europe," said Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, which represents the bloc’s 28 leaders. "Do not believe the smugglers. Do not risk your lives and your money. It is all for nothing. Greece or any other European country will no longer be a transit country." - NYT

03/03/2016: DHS Launches Known Employer Pilot Program

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has created the Known Employer pilot to assess a way to streamline the process for employers seeking to hire certain workers through employment-based visa categories. By modifying the process by which USCIS reviews an employer’s eligibility to sponsor individuals under certain immigrant and nonimmigrant visa classifications, the Known Employer pilot is expected to reduce paperwork, costs and delays in processing these benefit requests. - USCIS

03/03/2016: Flight School Student from Egypt May be Deported after Trump Threat

"A flight student from Egypt is facing deportation from the United States after being investigated by federal agents for posting on his Facebook page that he was willing to serve a life sentence for killing Donald Trump and that the world would thank him. While U.S. prosecutors have not charged 23-year-old Emadeldin Elsayed with a crime, immigration authorities arrested him last month at the Los Angeles-area flight school he attended and now are trying to deport him, attorney Hani Bushra said Wednesday." - ABC

It was a joke that involved a stereotype about Asians being good at math (the three children were introduced as PricewaterhouseCoopers accountants with Asian- and Jewish-sounding names), but ended with Rock saying onstage, "If anybody's upset about that joke, just tweet about it on your phone, which was also made by these kids." - NBC

02/27/2016: NY moves to allow illegal immigrants to teach in public schools

"New York education officials are defending a hotly debated plan to allow illegal immigrants to be certified as public school teachers. Saying the district doesn’t want to “close the door on their dreams,” state Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia explained those eligible for the teaching certification came to America as children." - Fox News

Effective February 25, 2016, new guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual provides information on the general policies and procedures for adjustment of status to lawful permanent residence as well as adjustment under section 245(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

Explains the meaning of “inspected and admitted” and “inspected and paroled” and reviews the purpose and scope of the terms: inspection, admission and parole.

Explains the distinction between lawful status, unlawful status and period of authorized stay.

Explains the scope and applicability of the bars to adjustment and related exemptions, including employment-based exemptions.

02/24/2016: Green Card Tracker Updated with Data as of January 12, 2016

USCIS today published the pending I-485 inventory with data as of January 12, 2016. We have now updated the green card tracker with the latest information. The I-485 tracker includes data from USCIS' pending I-485 inventory as well as DOS' pending consular processing cases.

02/20/2016: Thousands Rally After Conviction of Ex-Cop Peter Liang in Death of Akai Gurley

"Several thousand protesters, most of them Chinese Americans, packed a park in downtown Brooklyn Saturday afternoon to show support for Peter Liang, a former New York Police Department (NYPD) officer who was convicted last week of second-degree manslaughter and official misconduct in the shooting death of an unarmed man in a Brooklyn housing project.

While demonstrators expressed sympathy for Gurley's family, they also criticized the jury's verdict, saying the shooting was unintentional and that Liang, 28, wasn't acting recklessly when his gun went off while patrolling a pitch-dark stairwell at the Louis H. Pink Houses in Brooklyn." - NBC

"Stepping to the concrete edge of the Rio Grande, Pope Francis on Wednesday went to a militarized divide of the United States-Mexican border and prayed for compassion toward immigrants. He never set foot in the United States, but he did step directly, and deliberately, into the acrimonious American debate over immigration." - NY Times

02/13/2016: Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia Has Died at Age 79: Texas Governor

"Justice Antonin Scalia was a man of God, a patriot, and an unwavering defender of the written Constitution and the Rule of Law. He was the solid rock who turned away so many attempts to depart from and distort the Constitution," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement. "We mourn his passing, and we pray that his successor on the Supreme Court will take his place as a champion for the written Constitution and the Rule of Law." - NBC

02/11/2016: USCIS Written Testimony on EB5 Investor Visa Program

Congress created the EB-5 visa program in 1990 as a tool to stimulate the U.S. economy by encouraging foreign capital investments and job creation. The EB-5 program makes imm"Based on these numbers, it is estimated that at least $8.7 billion has been invested into the U.S. economy through the EB-5 program since October 1, 2012. In terms of job creation, based on the number of approvals of Form I-829 to remove conditions on permanent residence since October 1, 2012, it is estimated that an aggregate total of an estimated 35,140 jobs have been created for U.S. workers through foreign investment via the EB-5 program. While these are rough estimates, USCIS is working to refine data systems to better collect program performance data and has entered into an agreement with the Department of Commerce to conduct a valuation study of the EB-5 program which we expect to receive in the second quarter of FY2016." - USCIS

The Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for March 2016. The table below shows "Final Action (Approval)" cut-off dates and movement from the previous month, for all major employment-based categories. To see filing cut-off dates or family-sponsored categories please go to the Visa Bulletin page linked above. For historical data, predictions and more information please refer to our Visa Bulletin Toolbox.

02/05/2016: H-2B Returning Workers Exempted from the H-2B Cap for Fiscal Year 2016

"Effective December 18, 2015, H-2B workers identified as “returning workers” are exempted from the fiscal year (FY) 2016 annual H-2B cap of 66,000 visas...A returning worker is defined as an H-2B worker who was previously counted against the annual H-2B cap of 66,000 visas during FYs 2013, 2014, or 2015. - USCIS

"In a shocking reversal of policy, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents are being told to release illegal immigrants and no longer order them to appear at deportation hearings, essentially a license to stay in the United States, a key agent testified Thursday.

What's more, the stand down order includes a requirement that the whereabouts of illegals released are not to be tracked. 'We might as well abolish our immigration laws altogether,' suggested agent Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council." - Washington Examiner

02/01/2016: A Yahoo Employee-Ranking System Is Challenged in Court

"One of Marissa Mayer’s signature policies as chief executive of Yahoo has been the quarterly performance review, in which every employee at the company is ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. The ratings have been used to fire hundreds of employees since Ms. Mayer joined the company in mid-2012.

In a lawsuit filed in Federal District Court in San Jose, Calif., on Monday, Gregory Anderson, an editor who oversaw Yahoo’s autos, homes, shopping, small business and travel sites in Sunnyvale, Calif., until he was fired in November 2014, alleges that the company’s senior managers routinely manipulated the rating system to fire hundreds of people without just cause to achieve the company’s financial goals." - NY Times

All employers are required to complete a Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification to verify their new hires' identity and employment eligibility. The Department of Homeland Security Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Justice Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC) partnered and published guidance for employers on internal Form I-9 audits in compliance with the Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA). Download the entire Guidance for Employers Conducting Internal Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 Audits to help ensure internal audits are conducted properly and do not discriminate against employees.

01/26/2016: USCIS Message: Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week

Do not fall victim to scammers who call and say they are with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)! There has been an increase in aggressive phone scams where people call and threaten you with police arrest or deportation if you don’t pay them. Even if you do owe taxes…

The IRS will NEVER call and demand immediate payment over the phone.

The IRS will NEVER try to threaten or intimidate you, demand payment with a prepaid debit card, or ask for your credit card or debit card number over the phone.

The IRS will NEVER threaten to call the police or immigration agents if you don’t pay.

If you get a call like this, report it to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration by calling 800-366-4484 or visiting www.tigta.gov. Also, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/complaint.

01/21/2016: United States Begins Implementation of Changes to the Visa Waiver Program

"The United States today began implementing changes under the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 (the Act). U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) welcomes more than a million passengers arriving to the United States every day and is committed to facilitating legitimate travel while maintaining the highest standards of security and border protection. Under the Act, travelers in the following categories are no longer eligible to travel or be admitted to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP):

Nationals of VWP countries who have traveled to or been present in Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria on or after March 1, 2011 (with limited exceptions for travel for diplomatic or military purposes in the service of a VWP country).

Nationals of VWP countries who are also nationals of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria.

These individuals will still be able to apply for a visa using the regular immigration process at our embassies or consulates." - Department of State

"Setting the stage for a potential election-year blockbuster decision, the US Supreme Court has agreed to decide a Texas case challenging President Obama’s executive action to shield from deportation more than 4 million undocumented immigrants. The president announced the controversial policy in November 2014. But before it could go into effect, Texas and 25 other states filed a lawsuit seeking to block the program." - CSMonitor

"The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday deferred a decision about whether to hear the Justice Department's challenge to a federal appellate ruling blocking implementation of President Barack Obama's executive orders to shield some 5 million undocumented immigrants from deportation.

Though the immigration matter does not appear on Friday's list of cases to be heard during the current term, the nine justices still have time to add it to the docket." - Fox News

01/13/2016: USCIS I-485 Filing Visa Bulletin for February 2016

For Family-Sponsored Filings:
You may use the Dates for Filing Visa Applications chart for February 2016.

For Employment-Based Filings:
You must use the Application Final Action Dates chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for February 2016.

01/12/2016: New Law Increases H-1B and L-1 Petition Fees

"The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Public Law 114-113), signed into law by President Obama on December 18, 2015, increases fees for certain H-1B and L-1 petitioners. These petitioners must submit an additional fee of $4,000 for certain H-1B petitions and $4,500 for certain L-1A and L-1B petitions postmarked on or after December 18, 2015.

The additional fees apply to petitioners who employ 50 or more employees in the United States, with more than 50 percent of those employees in H-1B or L (including L-1A and L-1B) nonimmigrant status....This fee is in addition to the base processing fee, Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee, American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 fee (when required), as well as the premium processing fee, if applicable." - USCIS

The Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for February 2016. The table below shows "Final Action (Approval)" cut-off dates and movement from the previous month, for all major employment-based categories. To see filing cut-off dates or family-sponsored categories please go to the Visa Bulletin page linked above. For historical data, predictions and more information please refer to our Visa Bulletin Toolbox.

This recent influx is compounding President Obama’s troubles with immigration in his final year in office, as his efforts to achieve broad protections for immigrants already living in the country illegally have stalled in the federal courts and his fallback actions to try to quell a new border surge have alienated many political allies.

The new rush of Central American families began in late July, and on several recent days reached the heights of the 2014 influx. By Dec. 1, more than 17,000 migrants in families were caught along the border, more than double the number in the same period in 2014. - Bloomberg

01/05/2016: "Military age men" at San Diego's southern border

"Among the several dozen Pakistani and Afghan men who have entered the U.S. illegally, coming into San Diego from Tijuana, two were found to have ties to terrorist groups, according to a letter sent by U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter to the Department of Homeland Security.

Shigg said he believes that federal officials should be talking openly about this new development and committing more resources to keeping people from such countries in custody until they can be completely vetted." - San Diego Reader

01/05/2016: U.S. Begins Immigration Crackdown on Central Americans

The Obama administration this weekend began detaining Central Americans who have evaded deportation orders, launching a crackdown on people illegally in the country amid an increase in migrants trying to cross the southwest border.

Just before Christmas, government officials confirmed that the Department of Homeland Security was planning a clampdown on Central American migrants in January that would include women and children. The operation began in Georgia and Texas, immigration attorneys and advocates said Sunday. - WSJ

01/03/2016: Migrant Crisis Risks Eroding European Union’s Gains

The migrant crisis has divided the European Union, raised new security concerns in a region scarred by terrorism, recast an old debate about how to integrate large, often disaffected Muslim populations, and begun to reshape national politics across the bloc. While Europe remains split about how to tackle the challenge, all countries agree that the first priority this year will be to reduce the inflow to more manageable levels. - WSJ